Portable awning



Jan. 36, 1951 G. WIETHASE PORTABLE AWNING Filed April l, 1947 2 SheeiS-Sheet l G. l. WIETHSE PORTABLE AWNING Jan. 3, i951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1. 194" moentor (Ittorneg 5 62,40 V5 [0A/E Min-M55,

Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES OFFICE This invention relates to portable awnings an tures which may be collapsed for transportation vor storage into a relatively small space.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a portable awning structure having a pair of side frames for supporting a covering and a plurality of foldable members normally maintaining the side frames in parallel position, said members being foldable to an inoperative position to reduce the spacing of the side frames and thereby collapse the structure for transportation or storage. y

Another object is to provide a device of this type in which certain of the collapsible members move in different directions so that maximum stiffness and stability are preserved, together with the advantageous feature of collapsibility.

Another object is to provide a light weight portable awning structure having wheels positioned on parallel side frames, the frames including nonrotatable skid portions adapted to cooperate with the wheels to support the device in operative position and maintain it against overturning,

Another object is to provide a collapsible portable awning structure employing tubular side members generally S-shaped in conguration for maximum stiffness consistent with light weight.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the device in extended or operative position.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines 3--3 as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail illustrating one of the transverse hinged struts which extend between the parallel side frames.

Figure 5 is a similar detail showing construction of one of the other struts.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on .the lines 6-6 as shown in Figure 5.

Figure '7l illustrates a modied iorm of my invention in collapsed position and positioned within a case for ease of transportation or storage.

Y' Figure 8 is a perspective view-of this modification in operative position. i Figure 9 is a transverse sectional elevation of the device shown in Figure 8. p Referring to the drawings` a pair'of side frames l0 and |l,'which may be of identical design, are

- the device.

. 2 preferably formed of light weight metallic tubing in the shape of an S. The upper curved portion I2 of the side frames is adapted for the support of a cover i3, which may be formed of canvas, cioth, or any other suitable or desirable material. The center portion lli of the side frames l!! and l! extend downwardly at an angle and join the lower curved portions i5, which are in the shape of a semicircle. The rear extensions I6 of the frames i@ and ii extend upwardly to a convenient height and are again curved on a smaller radius to provide handles Il for manipulating These handles extend through openings l3 provided in the back portion I9 of the canvas cover i3.

Each of the side frames l0 and Il is provided with a wheel 20, which is rotatably secured to the frame by any suitable means, the location of the wheel 2@ on each of the side frames being such that the lowermost portion of the curve i5 is adapted to rest on the ground or other level surface and thus contribute towards the support of the device. Y

Suitable fastener means, such as tie cords 2|, are provided for scouring the cover I3 to the side frames l@ and l I and these tie cords may be conveniently located at the upper forward end 22, as well as at the positions 23 and 24, as illustrated in Figure 3. The side portions 25 and 26 of the canvas cover depend from the upper curved portions i 2 of the side members IIJ and Il and these side members are joined to the top 21 and back l t, as will be readily understood. Additional tie cords 28 and 2! may be provided for draping the side portions 25 and 2t in any desired fashion.

kMeans are provided for spacing the side frames lll and li and, as shown in the drawings, this means includes a plurality of struts 30, 3! and 32. Each of these struts is provided with a hinge element 33 at a central point and with a latch member 3ft adjacent thereto. The latch member is pivotally secured to the strut by the pivot pin 35 and in operative position the latch lies parallel to the strut overlying the position of the hinge to prevent movement oi the hinge and provide stiffness for the strut. Additional hinges 35 are provided at the end of each of the struts for connecting the respective struts to the tubing forming the side frames li) and H. The construction of the hinges 3e may be of any suitable or desirable type and they may be welded, bolted, screwed or otherwise ioined to the side frames Hl and Il.

In operation, the device may be rolled to the location at which it is to be used by tilting backwards in a direction to lift the curved portions I5 from ground contacting position and thus allow the entire device to be supported on the wheels 20. This operation is facilitated by the positioning of the handles l1 at a convenient height to be grasped by a, person standing behind the cover I3. The device may be moved or positioned when in either its collapsed or its fully extended position. When it is desired to extend the device for operation the side frames are separated to bring the struts 30 into a straight position so that the latch elements 313 may be swung about their pivots 35 and thus lock the struts against movement. It will be observed that the axis of the hinges of the struts `32 extends in a direction substantially different from the axis of the hinges in the other struts with the result that additional stilness against movement of the side frames in their extended position is effected.

In its extended position this device forms a portable, collapsible sunshade which may be used over chairs, couches, baby carriages or cribs. It has found particular usefulness in connection with garden furniture in affording a shade at any selected spot without requiring movement of the furniture to maintain it in a shady position as the sun changes during the day.

The modined form of my invention employs side frames 50 and 5| spaced in parallel relation by means of collapsible struts 52, 53 and 54. This device diiTers from the form of the invention described above in that the wheels may be omitted and the side frames provided with a. straight portion 55 adapted to contact the ground or other level surface to support the structure in operative position. A cover 56 of canvas or other suitable material may be provided as in the form described previously.

Suitable tie cords 51 are provided for securing the cover 56 to the side frames 50 and 5I. The details of mounting the struts on the side frames and the hinged joints and latches are similar to those previously described and, hence, the descriptions need not be repeated here.

If desired,` a ground covering 58 formed of canvas, cloth or other suitable material, may be joined to the cover 5S and be adapted to extend forwardly from the enclosure provided by the cover.

The entire device may be collapsed into a compact space as'illustrated in Figure '7 and may be transported or stored in the carrying case 59 illustrated.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to any of the details herein set forth, but my invention is ofthe full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a portable awning structure, the combination of a pair of parallel upwardly extending side frames each formed of a continuous length of tubular material and each having a lower skid portion adapted to contact a supporting surface, one end of each length ofy material terminating at the upper forward end of the side frame and the other end protruding rearwardly to provide a handle at an elevation intermediate said skid portion and the top of the side frames, a plurality of horizontally extending strut members each pivotally secured at its opposed ends to the side frames, a rst of the strut members extending between the upper forward ends of the side frames, each of the strut members being hinged at its midpoint to permit folding of. the strut member, whereby the lateral spacing of the side frames may be materially diminished, a releasable latch element mounted on each strut member adapted to maintain each strut member in operative position, and a cover formed of iiexible sheet material extending between and supported by the side frames and adapted to dene an enclosure, a forward upper edge of the cover terminating along said first strut member, said handles projecting rearwardly through said cover exteriorly of said enclosure.

2. In a portable awning structure, the combination of a pair of parallel upwardly extending side frames formed of a continuous length of tubular material and each having a curved top portion and a lower skid portion adapted to contact a supporting surface, one end of each length of material terminating at the upper forward end of the side frame and the other end protruding rearwardly to provide a handle at an elevation intermediate saidskid portion and the top of the side frames, a plurality of horizontally extending strut members each pivotally secured at its opposed ends to the side frames, a first of the strut members extending between the upper forward ends of the side frames, each of the strut members being hinged at its midpoint to permit folding of the strut member, whereby the lateral spacing of the side frames may be materially diminished, a releasable latch element mounted on each strut member adapted to maintain each strut member in operative position, and a cover formed of flexible sheet material extending between and supported by the side, frames and adapted to deline an enclosure, the top of the enclosure being formed by a portion of the cover extending between the curved top portion of the side frames and terminating along said rst strut member, said handles projecting rearwardly through said cover exteriorly of said enclosure.

3. In a portable awning structure, the combination of a pair of parallel upwardly extending side frames, formed of a continuous length of tubular material and each having a curved lower skid portion adapted to contact a supporting surface, one end of each length of material terminating at the upper forward end of the side frame and the other end protruding rearwardly to provide a handle at an elevation intermediate said skid portion and thev top of the side frames, a wheel mounted on each side frame adjacent to and cooperating with the skid portion to maintain the side frames in an upright position, a plurality of horizontally extending strut members each pivotally secured at its opposed ends to the side frames, each of the strut members being hinged at its midpoint to permit folding of the strut member, whereby the lateral spacing of the side frames may be materially diminished, a releasable latch element pivotally mounted on each strut member adapted to maintain each strut member in operative position, and a cover formed of flexible Sheet material extending between and supported by the side frames and adapted to dene an enclosure, said handles projecting rearwardly through said cover exteriorly of said enclosure.

4. In a portable awning structure, the combination of a pair of parallel upwardly extending side frames, each side frame being formed of a continuous length of tubular material and having a lower skid portion adapted to contact a supporting surface, a wheel mounted on each side frame adjacentV to and cooperating with the skid portion to maintain the side frames ,in an upright position, one end of each lengthv ofV ma- 6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,792,799 Baxter Feb. 17, 1931 2,014,614 Czygan Sept. 17, 1935 2,209,654 Loeser July 30, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,323 Australia Aug, 10, 1931 

